Avery Schreiber
A mustachioed comic force, he brought manic energy to everything from improv stages to beloved Doritos commercials.
1935–2002 (age 67)·American actor and comedian·Birthday: April 9·The Silent Generation
Biography
With a walrus mustache and eyes that could pop with comic alarm, Avery Schreiber was a fixture of American comedy for decades. He first broke through in the 1960s as half of the improv duo Burns and Schreiber with Jack Burns, a partnership that led to their own television variety show. Schreiber possessed a unique, physical style of humor that made him a natural for television guest spots, where he would steal scenes on shows like 'My Mother the Car' and 'Bewitched.' Later generations knew him as the frantic, cheese-loving father in the long-running series of Doritos commercials. His career was a testament to versatility, moving seamlessly from nightclub stages to film roles to voice work, always leaving an imprint of joyful chaos.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Avery was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Avery Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Avery's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2002Died at 67
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
Key Achievements
- Formed the influential comedy duo 'Burns and Schreiber' with partner Jack Burns, leading to a network TV show.
- Appeared in over 100 television series, including memorable guest roles on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' and 'Laverne & Shirley.'
- Voiced Officer Charlie Dibble in the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon 'Top Cat.'
- Starred in the popular series of 1970s and 80s Doritos commercials, becoming a recognizable face to millions.
Did You Know?
He was a dedicated teacher of improvisation and comedy at venues like The Second City.
Schreiber was a talented dramatic actor who performed in stage productions of Shakespeare.
He served in the United States Army before pursuing comedy.
He and Jack Burns were the first comedy act to perform at the historic Carnegie Hall.
“I'm not a comedian, I'm an actor who does funny things.”
